Five Syrian refugees turn themselves in at U.S.-Mexico border in Texas

SAN YSIDRO, CA - OCTOBER 03: U.S. Border Patrol agent Jerry Conlin stands on the American side of the U.S.-Mexico border on October 3, 2013 at the San Ysidro port of enty into Mexico, California. While hundreds of thousands of government workers were furloughed due to the federal shutdown, thousands of Border Patrol agents, air-traffic controllers, prison guards and other federal employees deemed "essential" remain on duty, although their pay may be delayed. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
(2013 Getty Images)

LAREDO, Texas (AP) – Federal officials say another group of Syrian refugees has turned themselves in to immigration authorities along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Sunday that the group identified themselves to border agents in the South Texas town of Laredo on Friday. The group consisted of a family of three along with two other men.

They were held to check their identities against national security databases and then turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for temporary detention.

Their arrival came after two Syrian families identified themselves Tuesday to border officials in Laredo. In each instance, the men were taken to one detention facility and the women and children to another.

Hundreds of thousands of people have fled Syria to escape the war, most of them to Europe.